From the Wall Street Journal (below copied from 512 Pixels, as the WSJ has a paywall):
“It is no longer cost-effective for us to distribute our digital content the way we have done previously,” Dixon told employees in the memo. He said the company could partner with established media companies to distribute its content. “As part of this shift, we will no longer publish content on vice.com.”
And before this:
- BuzzFeed sells Complex as its digital empire shrinks and slashes 16% of staff
- Condé Nast has announced the music website Pitchfork will be rolled into GQ Magazine
- BuzzFeed News will shut down
A domain name and hosting aren’t overly expensive. Put out something that folks will pay for and maybe earn a living doing it.
The glory days are over. Time to get back to making good shit with some friends and hoping for the best. 404 Media is profitable after just six months. Jason Kottke is making it work.
“The market didn’t reject Pitchfork: Condé had a captive audience, and never bothered to make a pitch.”
Pete Tosiello
Newspapers were subsidized by ads decades ago. Classifieds meant local alt-weeklies could exist. Banner ads paid the bills for websites, until they didn’t.
Then came the corporate interests, the “smart” VPs with their business jackets and jeans outfits.
They came in, had their $400 lunches, made their money, and walked away just fine.
Like I said, “Maybe centralized kingdoms of power and influence aren’t the answer.”